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I'll be glad when these media events dopey journalists call "debates" are over. A real debate involves an extended discussion of issues, such as was done during the debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. The media events of today only give the participants sufficient time to repeat political cliches and other sound bites. This approach favors politicians like Sen. Joe Biden who lack the intelligence to understand the complexity of the real world. For example, Biden seems incapable of understanding that wars cannot be conducted according to strict timetables because the enemy and the weather only...

UPDATED: Thursday's debate between Alaska governor Sarah Palin and Delaware senator Joe Biden proved prognosticators correct and scored extremely high viewership. Last night's debate totaled a 45.0 overnight meter-market household rating, according to Nielsen That's 42% higher than Friday's presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama, which scored a collective 31.6 rating among the broadcast and cable networks. It's also a stunning 60% higher than the 2004 debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards. In fact, the figure surpasses any presidential debate since 1992's second bout between Bill Clinton, Ross Perot and George Bush. The ratings will likely decrease...

Comeback Sarah Palin changed her image overnight. by Fred Barnes The moment when Sarah Palin knew she was winning last night's debate with her vice presidential opponent Joe Biden came after the subject had turned to nuclear weapons. Palin had talked about nukes as a deterrent and said it was important to keep them out of the hands of dictators who are enemies of America. Then she turned to moderator Gwen Ifill and asked, "Can we talk about Afghanistan real quick?" Afghanistan? The impression Palin had left in television interviews with ABC's Charles Gibson and CBS's Katie Couric was that...

Palin Shines by Steve Skojec 10/02/08 I've been one of the conservatives critical of Gov. Sarah Palin, and her recent media interviews have only intensified my concerns. I did not expect her to do well tonight, and said so publicly. I was wrong. I'm impressed with her ability to turn things around, grab hold of her confidence, and outshine Joe Biden - a likeable guy. As a trad Catholic and paleoconservative, I'm a perpetual malcontent, so I'm not going to say I was impressed with everything she had to say, only with how she said it. She was good on...

Tip the balance of a tie.

Well....it's over. How do you think Sara did?

Advice for tonight's vice presidential debate shows Biden, Palin differences08:47 AM CDT on Thursday, October 2, 2008By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News choppe@dallasnews.com AUSTIN – Sarah Palin must know her facts. Joe Biden must know when to stop. In the most anticipated vice presidential debate in decades, both candidates have something to prove to voters, who are looking for competent answers and something as ethereal as a look or a tone – some kind of connection to their lives, experts believe. Because what survives in a debate are one-liners and impressions, and that is why the only meeting...

Qualified by Fred Thompson When John McCain selected Governor Sarah Palin, as his running mate, the Democrats and their far-left constituency let out a primal scream that could be heard from sea to shining sea. How dare he choose someone that they and their pals in the media had not had a chance to vet (i.e. libel, slander, and otherwise and otherwise eviscerate). Ah, but it was not too late. These seekers of “a new kind of politics” poured torrents of malicious abuse upon her and her family. Plane loads of scandal mongers, lawyers and other truth seekers became more...

Each day seems to bring news confirming that Joe Biden is a net minus for his ticket and talk of Hillary Clinton’s riding in to save the “Democrat’s year” gets louder. Will she? Since everything she does is always about her, should she? In June Barack Obama had the support of just 58% of former Hillary Clinton supporters and that has not changed. Worse still, the number who will vote for John McCain has grown seven points to 28%. The AP reports Obama’ s Democratic base support is alarmingly low at 74%. In 2000 Al Gore got 90%, in 2004...

Lets stop talking about potential presidents for a moment. Instead, let us talk about potential vice presidents. Sarah Palin has received enough attention in recent weeks, so I won’t write about her now either, however. Therefore; lets talk Joe Biden. Biden hasn’t gotten a lot of media attention since it was announced he’d be Barack Obama’s running mate, but he deserves a whole lot of attention. You see, in only a couple of days weeks time Biden has proved himself to be completely incapable of being Vice President. He ripped an ad of the Obama campaign, calling it terrible. He...

How qualified for the vice presidency of the United States could a Republican be who: Is young - under 45 years old? Speaks in favor of economic development of Alaska? Advocates and engages in exercise for personal fitness? Has lived in the wilds of the American Northwest? Fishes, hunts, and loves the great outdoors? Has a reputation, not as an environmentalist, but as a conservationist? Has at least five children? Is a moralist for whom every issue is a struggle between good and evil? Is a reformer who has taken on the GOP's "good old boy network"? Believes corporations should...

John McCain's decision to name Sarah Palin as his running mate has had an impact on polls nationwide. Palin became the major story at the RNC in St. Paul last week. Her sudden entrance onto the national political stage appears to be paying off for McCain in Minnesota. So what impact is she having on the McCain campaign in Minnesota? According to our exclusive SurveyUSA poll, which surveyed 552 registered Minnesota voters: - 38 percent said they are more likely to vote for McCain because of Palin - 25 percent said they are less likely to vote for him because...

The bold choice of Governor Sarah Palin to be John McCain’s Vice Presidential running mate is one that caught many observers, including some contributors to this blog off guard. It was and remains a risky choice, and Governor Palin is not without negatives, but to Senator McCain’s credit, his choice of running mate has ignited a degree of enthusiasm and support across the political spectrum that has propelled him into the lead for the first time in this presidential contest. Whether Governor Palin was a wise choice will ultimately be determined on Election Day, and that will partly be determined...

Sometimes politics has the uncanny effect of mirroring the national psyche even when nobody intended to do that. This is perfectly illustrated by the rousing effect that Gov. Sarah Palin had on the Republican convention in Minneapolis this week. On the surface, she outdoes former Vice President Dan Quayle as an unlikely choice, given her negligent parochial expertise in the complex affairs of governing. Her state of Alaska has less than 700,000 residents, which reduces the job of governor to the scale of running one-tenth of New York City. By comparison, Rudy Giuliani is a towering international figure. Palin’s pluck...

Will Sen. Joe Biden be dropped from the Democratic Party ticket before Election Day? Television pundits, talk radio personalities and blogs have been buzzing with speculation about a last-minute VP switch for the party. On Fox's "Hannity & Colmes" last night, Sean Hannity asked Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa., "Will they replace Biden with Hillary?" Rendell replied, "No, absolutely not. Joe Biden is here to stay. Next vice president of the United States." However, according to recent polls, Biden's popularity is not as high as Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Results from a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. national survey released yesterday...

Today's Math The big switch? “ 1   On Thursday, Barack Obama will meet Bill Clinton at the former president's foundation headquarters in Harlem ” + 2 Biden: Hillary might have been better ÷ 3 "Is Biden Having a Stroke?" = Thomas Eagleton

Sarah IS us. Sarah is the kind of mom who spit combs her baby’s hair to make him look nice (which is probably where Piper learned the trick.) Sarah probably does some of the grocery shopping and meal planning. She schedules the children’s trips to the doctor or dentist. Sarah is probably the one who remembers to put T-tissue on the grocery list. Sarah doesn’t have to reach to prove that she knows about our everyday concerns – she lives most of them. Unlike John Edwards who tells his father’s story to make himself seem like the common man,...

WASHINGTON -- Months before the Bush administration ends, historians and open-government advocates are concerned that Vice President Dick Cheney, who has long bristled at requirements to disclose his records, will destroy or withhold key documents that illustrate his role in forming U.S. policy for the past seven and a half years.In a pre-emptive move, several of them have agreed to join the nonpartisan group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in asking a federal judge to declare that Cheney's records are covered by the Presidential Records Act of 1978 and cannot be destroyed, taken or withheld without proper review....

Bye, Bye, Biden... John Walker After being the media love-child for much of 19-months, Barack Obama has seen what may be his biggest setback of the campaign so far. Media outlets this week are releasing new polling numbers showing Obama’s campaign down between four and 10 points to Republican running mates John McCain and Sarah Palin. Obama is widely known as the one that beat presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in a heated primary season that went down literally to the very last state. Since that time, Obama has worked to unify his party and ticket behind his message. Getting...

SPOKANE, Wash. (Sept. 4) - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin seems to have switched colleges at least six times in six years, including two stints at the University of Idaho before graduating from there in 1987. Federal privacy laws prohibit the schools from disclosing her grades, and none of the schools contacted by The Associated Press could say why she transferred. There was no indication any were contacted as part of the background investigation of Palin by presidential candidate John McCain's campaign.

That should be the headline in newspapers around the world this morning. A couple of weeks ago I took off my Vice Presidential hat to act as political commentator and pundit to critique Barack Obama's V.P. choice of Joe Biden. I called it a terrible choice, a bland choice, and strategically, a failure. As a matter of fact, strategically, BOTH parties blew it. If Obama picks Hillary (and her 18 million primary votes) he has a good chance of sitting in the White House. But Joe who? From Dela-where? The guy known for plagiarizing his speeches? After watching last night's...

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Sarah Palin introduced herself to America last night as "just your average hockey mom," but to the roar of ecstatic Republican National Convention delegates her convention speech rose above the expectations birthed last week when John McCain stunned the nation by choosing the Alaska governor as his running mate. Making it seem easy to deliver a speech watched by millions worldwide amid a media frenzy over her personal life, she told her story and framed the argument for a McCain-Palin White House, delivering carefully crafted one-liners to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's doorstep with a resolute...

With grave suspicion and reservations, I nonetheless rejoice that the fading embers of conservatism may have indeed caught fire once more. That fireball is Gov.Sarah Palin of Alaska, I pray the next Vice President of the United States. Now I know why I have seen no one with any guts in the Republican Party in so long: the governor of Alaska has them all. Her speech last night was clearly a grand slam out-of-the-park home run. America, we have liftoff! By selecting Gov. Palin to be his running mate, Sen. McCain has finally electrified the conservative base -- the very...

In 1972 Sen. Joseph Biden, the Democrat nominee for vice President, lost his wife and young daughter in a car accident. Losing your family in a auto accident is a gut wrenching tragedy, to be sure. No one underestimates that and no ever blamed Mrs. Biden for the accident. Right up there with despicable things one human can do to another, is falsely accusing the innocent of a crime. “Bearing false witness” is even in the 10 commandments, but Mr. Biden’s feigned Catholicism doesn’t let that stop him. Last night CBS Inside Addition reports, “In a striking moment in December...

What do you think about Senator John McCain's choice? Most of us news producers were surfing the internet Friday afternoon looking for any and all information on Sarah Palin's background. I came across her biography, "Sarah: How A Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down." The author, Kaylene Johnson is a writer and long-time Alaskan who lives on a farm outside Wasilla, Alaska. I gave her a call at 8:00 p.m. ET to set up a radio interview. We also got permission to post photos from the book as well as an excerpt: Here is an excerpt from Chapter...

Sarah Palin was Sarah Heath, a sports reporter for TV station (KTUU Channel 2) in the 1980's. Here is a clip of Sarah Palin (a.k.a. Sarch Heath) doing a report.

John Stewart gives a surprisingly witty and back-handed review of Obama's speech in Denver.

Sarah Palin is the 12th cousin of John McCain, 8th cousin of George W. Bush and 10th cousin of Barack Obama.

John McCain was aiming to make history with his pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and historians say he succeeded. Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era. ** More at link **

Dads a hunter and firsherman, husband is a fisherman, union guy. she cut taxes, attacked corruption, has five kids, and a sense of person. she works on the boat on the weekends with husband. truly the realest person in the race. I luv her as a choice. genius

Sarah Palin's position as Governor of Alaska and as the Republican nominee for the Vice-Presidency fulfills the promise that the womens liberation movement has been making to American women for a generation: You can have it all! You can be a good wife and mother and still have a career. You can be a wife and mother of five and become the Governor of Alaska and Vice-President of the United States. And look darn good doing it! Well, at least you can have all those things if you're a Republican!

With reports circulating this morning that John McCain will pick dark horse Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, top Palm Beach County Republicans were quick to praise the apparent choice. "Senator John McCain has made a great pick in Governor Sarah Palin." Gov. Charlie Crist said today. "She has demonstrated tremendous leadership as the chief executive of her state, working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to do what's right. I congratulate both Senator McCain and Governor Palin on this historic choice for our people." Boca Raton GOP conservative activist Jack Furnari, who said he has been a...

Programming Note: I will be giving a radio interview today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on "The Blog Bunker" show on Sirius Channel 110 to talk about the selection of Sarah Palin and the race in general.Johnny Mac shoots out the lights with the Palin pick. Absolute Masterstroke. We became a fan of Sarah Palin in March when we posted Gov. Sarah Palin: Good Looking and Good for You. This will not only cause the base to open up their wallets, get the yard signs (with pictures?) out, and boost the get-out-the-vote efforts, it may just grab enough of Hillary's folks...

Don’t kid yourself…John McCain just put all his chips on the table and rolled the dice. Over the past many months, McCain’s team had skillfully underscored the natural impressions of Americans – that Barak Obama was the lightweight in the race; the candidate of risk. Now, with a single stroke McCain has undercut his most effective argument. He has weakened his case for wisdom and experience, and elevated a one-term governor of a small-population state based on her gender. McCain had plenty of safe choices. Choices that would have bolstered Americans’ inherent understanding of McCain’s competency and ability; choices that...

Pelosi will now be NUMBER TWO having to answer to a MUCH SMARTER (Not that there's even a comparison!), good-looking, Republican WOMAN!! This is gonna be SWEET!!

The 44-year-old Palin brings working class roots and appeal to female voters, becoming only the second female vice presidential candidate on a major party ticket and a first for the GOP.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty told WCCO radio this morning that he is going to the State Fair and not to Dayton, Ohio, where Republican Sen. John McCain is to announce his choice for vice president at 11 a.m. “I plan to be at the State Fair,” he said. “You can draw your conclusions from that.” A conservative source told CNN's John King just after 8 a.m. that Pawlenty had just received a call informing him that he is not McCain's pick. The governor told the station’s Eric Eskola during a 6:25 a.m. telephone interview: “All I can say is that I’m...

Lady's and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you the next Vice President of The United States of America, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. About the Governor Governor Sarah Palin made history on Dec. 4, 2006, when she took office. As the 11th governor of Alaska, she is the first woman to hold the office. Since taking office, her top priorities have been resource development, education and workforce development, public health and safety, and transportation and infrastructure development. Under her leadership, Alaska invested $5 billion in state savings, overhauled education funding, and implemented the Senior Benefits Program that provides support...

The mainstream media and democratic party will be paying close attention to the reaction the conservative blogosphere has for McCain's Vice-Presidential pick. So, please, regardless of whom he picks, let's not give them any fodder. The last thing we need to hear from Chris Matthews is "Conservatives are outraged over this pick. Here's just a sampling of posts on the conservative blog Freerepublic..."

Romney Followed by Men with Ear Pieces Share August 27, 2008 10:28 PM ABC New's Matt Stuart reports: As reports about Sen. John McCain's vice presidential selection reach a fever pitch, likely short lister Gov. Mitt Romney is heading to San Diego. Following a raucous rally in Henderson, Nev., on behalf of the Arizona senator and presumptive Republican nominee, during which there were multiple calls for Romney to get the VP nod, the former Massachusetts governor sped off in a white SUV, flanked by police cars. Just a day earlier, Romney was in Denver, providing counter programming to the Democrats'...

Barack Obama’s selection of veteran Senator Joe Biden is an attempt to plug a very real problem – Obama’s own lack of experience. Conversely, John McCain has much experience, so a younger person with practical experience is needed. If McCain picks the right person, his VP selection will help to energize the base, win the election, assist McCain to govern effectively; and – we have heard no one include this consideration – develop a solid conservative candidate to head the Republican ticket in 2012 or 2016. There are several individuals who potentially fit the needed VP profile. Here, we will...

No link yet but Drudge says McCain has made the decision...

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 108th Congress - 1st Session as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate Vote Summary Question: On the Amendment (Harkin Amdt. No. 260 ) Vote Number: 48 Vote Date: March 12, 2003, 04:03 PM Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Amendment Agreed to Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 260 to S. 3 Statement of Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate concerning the decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. Vote Counts: YEAs 52 NAYs 46 Not Voting 2 ~ snip ~ Hutchison...

Exclusive sources deep within the DNC have revealed Sen. Joe Biden’s vice presidential acceptance speech, causing an uproar among Obama campaign staffers. Biden is not expected to address plagiarism charges leveled against him. Here are selected excerpts from Biden’s speech: I’m John Kerry and I’m reporting for duty.

This is a transcript of Biden's speech in Springfield, I want you to parse what he is saying here: Snip... Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here for their future; I'm here for the future of your kids. I'm here for everyone I — I'm here for everyone I grew up [with] in Scranton, Pennsylvania, who's been forgotten and everybody in Claymont, Delaware, in Wilmington where I lived. I'm here for the cops and the firefighters, the teachers and the line workers, the folks who live — the folks whose lives are the measure of whether the American dream endures. snip. Notice...

I think General David Petraeus would be a great choice for McCain's VP. It would be the Heroes vs. the Zeroes.

You want family values? She has it. You want patriotism? She has it. Track Palin enlisted in the Army. He wants to head to Iraq. You want a ‘maverick’? She has it. She took out Alaska’s corrupt power structure. She doesn’t like special interests. She is something of an idealist. She has enough executive experience to appear young and fresh to counter anything the Obama campaign might throw at John McCain. She is a champion of ethics reform. Have I mentioned that she is young (46) and pretty?

The selection of Joe Biden as Barack Obama’s running mate changes the whole dynamic of the Veep choice now facing John McCain. Sure, Biden brings credibility and experience and reassuring familiarity to the Democratic ticket, but he hardly adds sizzle or novelty. The Democrats feel that they’ve got enough pizzaz with their standard bearer, so it doesn’t hurt that they take a Vice Presidential contender with all the excitement of boiled Brussels sprouts. I hope that this choice now gives John McCain reason to reconsider the safe, reassuring possibilities of Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty—apparently, the two leading contenders for...

Biden is the third most liberal Senator in the U.S. Congress, and a nearly 100% pro-abortion Senator.

So the candidate for "change" brings us as his Vice-Presidential running mate the guy whose picture is in the dictionary under "Washington Establishment." Is Obama going to change his entire campaign message? Barack Obama so loves himself that he chose as his running mate a higher-mileage version of ... Barack Obama. Both are guys who were elected to the Senate as young men with winning smiles and almost no real-world experience. Both are guys whose arrogance is only exceeded by their self-conceit. I take that back - nothing exceeds Joe Biden's arrogance. The "change" candidate - he's a uniter, not...